A shield back chair is a chair whose back is shaped like a heraldic shield, with a curved top rail and sides tapering towards a narrow point or base just above the seat. The open back is usually filled with a pierced splat carved or inlaid with Neoclassical motifs such as urns, wheat ears, Prince of Wales feathers, swags and drapery.
The form is most closely associated with George Hepplewhite, whose posthumously published guide of 1788 included many shield back designs, and it was widely made in English mahogany dining and salon chairs of the 1780s and 1790s. Typical examples stand on tapering square legs, sometimes with spade feet, and may be painted, japanned or satinwood in lighter, more fashionable pieces. The design was revived extensively in the late Victorian and Edwardian periods, when Sheraton and Hepplewhite revival chairs were made in large numbers, often with fine marquetry. Because the shaped back is joined at its narrow base, it is a weak point and should be checked for breaks and repairs. Collectors prefer original sets, good timber and crisp carving. Shield back chairs bring lightness and refinement to a dining room.
